[hornychz]

... there are some good news with the laser distance measurement ...

Congratulations! 

[engolling]

Here you can see my rooting mistake and the correction:



And here you can see the upper side of the PCB:



More over I made a changement in the software and added a tilt correction, since the device will later look at the snow in a defined angle that falling snow is not blocked by its housing.

Moreover I ordered the SNDWAY laser to get this also running because at the moment it is widely available for ~$20.
So 3 different types of laser ranging devices will be supported.

- ATTKOO Laser or similar from Ali Express with RS232 TTL signal
- Holo NSCE Laser
- SNDWAY Laser including all rebrandings with this display: https://cf1.s3.souqcdn.com/item/2016/09/...388438.jpg

I'm looking forward to get the laser finished, because I still have another other sensing projects in the pipeline, including a pyranometer, PT 100 temperature measurement, precipitation measurement, ...

[engolling]

Attached you can find a updated version of the software.

Changelog v3.3:
- Status message of laser is requested first after startup
- Enough readings are done to fill the median filter in order to prevent that init data is sent
- I2C sending is blocked during start up sequence to prevent that init data is sent
- Documentation extended

Next step will be trying to integrate the SNDWay Laser, grabbing it's data over the display bus.

[engolling]

I found a bug in the software that at some condition the data is not provided fast enough to the TX board resulting in some kind of overflow values.
There will be a new version in the next view days.

Since winter is still far away not very much is happening at the moment, but I'm still planing the support of the other laser types.

[engolling]

Here is the update

Changelog:
- fixed I2C data sending function after status message was read

[engolling]

Update: At the moment I'm going to order some new pcbs with the right connection of the I2C including some other improvements like a tare button.

Since the support of more ranging devices is being worked out at the moment the final design is not frozen at the moment. 
At the moment I'm experimenting with some widely available $20 lasers to get the information from the display bus, but it seems there are a lot of identically looking ranging device available which have slightly different electronics inside, so you never know what you get.   
This makes it difficult to get a suitable laser.
So I tend to leave the support for the actually supported device and I'm in touch with a manufacturer, that I maybe can offer the whole bundle of PCB, ranging device and software in future.

I will keep you updated at this topic.

[hornychz]

Thank you for info. 

[engolling]

Latest news:
The new PCBs are ready for manufacturing.
The snow height measuring system will support two types of lasers:
- The Holo Laser, I have in use in my homebuilt system since two years
- The HIREED Laser, I started with for my WeatherDuino System

Background: The HIREED Laser is always available via AliExpress and the Holo Laser will be available as bundle with the pcb and ship together, because I decided to buy a small amount of the sensors.
I did some tests and experiments over the summer to hack other widely available device to find out that you have to have a huge knowledge in bus communication and electronics to get the stuff running. So I don't think that somebody wants to order three identically looking devices so that in the end maybe one works…

So find the latest PCB attached, now everything should be fine and no wrong pins to be connected.
I think the new PCB and the laser devices should be available in about 4 weeks.

Regards,
Engolling

[engolling]

Hello together,
 
the new PCBs (attached) are in manufacturing process now. Moreover I ordered a small amount of laser distance sensors.
I will keep you updated, when things have arrived in Germany and available.

Best regards,
engolling

[engolling]

Update: I'm still waiting for the PCBs to be delivered.

Moreover I ordered a small amount of laser distance sensors which I will sell with the PCBs.
So when the new PCBs arrive I will test them and the laser devices and will keep you updated  .

Additionally I already created, thanks to Werk, a logo for the add on:





… so stay tuned 

Greetings,
Stefan